Stocking Fillers

[Vienna]

Alter Ego I`d rather someone like yourself put thought and fun into buying me a £5 present than someone just chuck money at my gift for the sake of appearances. You`re a woman after my own heart. Myself and Mr V don`t buy for each other at Christmas but we do buy each other something smallish for our birthdays, usually smellies.
We buy for our kids and their partners and of course for our grandkids but stick to a budget. My oldest son and my DIL both get a bottle of their favorite perfume/EDT, my middle son and his partner are both keen cooks and foodies so they always get a joint gift of a kitchen or dining gizmo or gadget plus relevant food or drink to go with it and my youngest son at 33 still loves and collects lego sets so that`s what he gets and his partner had to borrow a suitcase from me last year so this year I`ve bought her one of her own which was half price from Tripp. Mr V`s son is a keen fisherman so he either gets a yearly subscription to his fishing magazine or vouchers for a local fishing tackle shop.
Our grandkids vary in age so their gifts vary too but we don`t go overboard. Other than our immediate families we don`t buy for anybody else and that`s how its always been and always will be.

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

I used to call them cheque book presents - just write out the cheque for the easiest present to acquire despite it not being what the person would want or like, ie not a scrap of thought or effort put into it just money (usually bought at the last minute too).

A present tailored to the recipient especially something unusual is far nicer to receive - not saying that an expensive present that you really really want isn’t a fab idea but it doesn’t have to be expensive to be thoughtful.

Mr L has had a beard for nearly 50 years but it was common for family members to buy him aftershave (pre cologne for men days) . That made me very angry.

 

[shopperholic]

To spend £2 on a present you can’t afford for someone will mean just as much, if not more, than someone who can spend £2000, after all the sentiment is exactly the same. I know we go overboard but at the end of the day the real spirit of Christmas doesn’t come from a purse, wallet, store or a big bunch of cash, it comes from the heart and the true meaning of what Christmas is all about, peace, goodwill and Christianity. I ask instead of getting me a present that a donation be made to charity instead.

Just adding that even I draw the line at QVCs ridiculous priced “festive food” were the price of eight pies, marshmallows or “artisan” biscuits would feed a family for a week. A lot have bad reviews proving expensive doesn’t mean better.

 

[Twilight]

I love Christmas, always have, & live every one as though it's my last, because one year it will be. Our family is quite small, we don't buy for friends & the only other person I buy for is my hairdresser, we set a budget & I stick to it. I also do all the planning, shopping, wrapping & decorating so follow on from my mum who loved the season & passed her enthusiasm on to her daughters. Obviously this one won't be the same, & it's not just Christmas Day it's all the build up, but in the 'What can't be cured...' tradition I'll still do all the usual & plan to have a family Christmas Day in the summer holidays to make up.

 

[Loveinamist]

Gone are the days of an orange and a walnut in its shell!

 

[Twilight]

As Vienna commented there do seem to be quite a number of houses already decorated & even as a yuleaholic I find that a tad too early. However, what I do recommend is early consumption of Aldi's mince pies, especially the crumble topped ones with blood orange & gin & the ones with sloe gin & the ones with Amaretto. In fact I recommend ALL of them.

 

[Vienna]

I walked down the street today and was greeted by an 8ft blowup Santa waving around in someone`s front garden. He wasn`t well tethered and looked a bit droopy in places as if whoever had blown him up had run out of puff or run out of energy with the foot pump. He has only appeared within the last 24 hours and if the wind gets up then he`ll end up on someone`s roof or in the middle of the road.

 

[shopperholic]

I walked down the street today and was greeted by an 8ft blowup Santa waving around in someone`s front garden. He wasn`t well tethered and looked a bit droopy in places as if whoever had blown him up had run out of puff or run out of energy with the foot pump. He has only appeared within the last 24 hours and if the wind gets up then he`ll end up on someone`s roof or in the middle of the road.

Droopy in places? Maybe he’s just got a headache

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

My neighbours still have their bliddy Halloween decorations up -fgs it was 14 days ago!

 

[alter ego]

I walked down the street today and was greeted by an 8ft blowup Santa waving around in someone`s front garden. He wasn`t well tethered and looked a bit droopy in places as if whoever had blown him up had run out of puff or run out of energy with the foot pump. He has only appeared within the last 24 hours and if the wind gets up then he`ll end up on someone`s roof or in the middle of the road.

These things started out as a bit of fun I suppose but now they just look tacky (even if they're blown up until they're really stiff and then tied down well ).

Every time I see one all I can think of is waste. Waste of the planet's resources to make and ship them, waste of family money and finally, literal waste when a damaged one goes to landfill.

I sound like a misery guts but I do love Christmas. My idea of a good Christmas always was making sure we had plenty of good food, family and friends around and fingers crossed we don't have a power cut or boiler go over the period (the joy's of rural living and bad timing!).

Now, I'm just very happy with the food, heat, electricity (though not so many power cuts these days, thankfully), and having my OH home. A novelty as he'd worked all through Christmas for a few decades.

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

Stuff it! Our lockdown has just been extended so my hair appointment has been cancelled yet again.

 

[SisterBliss]

Our Christmas will be quite cheap this year. Only family members under 11 will be getting anything.

Everyone who knows us knows our finances changed a few years ago so we've been tapering off for a while but I do buy my best friend three ridiculous/funny/ stocking filler gifts, all under a fiver. It's a bit of a competition between us, one which gets more competitive every year. As we're both fairly old, one of them this year will be a bar of red carbolic soap. More useful in these times than ridiculous but funny as we always have p-taking about our ages. I'm pondering a whoopee cushion but unwrapping it (we use old newspaper and magazines) will be a bit 'deflating' (pun!) unless I can place it under a seat cushion...

I don't buy for Mr AE specifically as be both buy as needed at best price these days. I fail to see the point of buying until the sales as we both know Santa won't be making a visit down our chimney. Both our families, however, go absolutely crazy for Christmas (then borrow money for the rest of the year). We've opted out for the last few years and it's a huge relief.

His family call us Mr and Mrs Scrooge for some reason . They have no sense of responsibility and expect us to slap everything on credit cards with no hope of paying them off. What's Christmassy about that?

Funny age related suggestion for the friends funny stocking: Tin of prunes, single wrapped tena lady, vagisil product, pack of Frazzles (vafrazzle!!!!)

Note: I used the vagisil intimate deo as an underarm spray/body spray (not Vag) I really liked the soft, gentle scent - can't bear strong pongs (again - not for my!!!! valga - yikes!!!)

 

[maymorganlondon]

I understand why some folks are starting Christmas early, with wreaths on doors, twinkly lights etc... but keep Santa in December, I feel.
There has been so much gloom and despondency and the BoJo November lockdown in England was a real punch in the gut... Christmas decorations are such a happy sight, and very uplifting for all but the stony-hearts. Many of us don't yet know where or how we will celebrate Christmas this year, so even if lockdown is eased, there's no sense of returning to normality.
Just being able to see loved ones this Christmas will be a treasured gift. Sod Q's ever more lavish suggested stocking fillers! See your family if possible; share a meal with them if you can; and value the time spent together. That will be my stocking filler and main present this year.

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

Christmas decorations are such a happy sight, and very uplifting for all but the stony-hearts.
Me!

 

[Twirl58]

We haven't bought each other Christmas presents for years, in fact I can't remember the last time we did. We get what we need throughout the year. We usually visit eldest daughter and grandchildren the Sunday before Christmas day with their presents. Sometimes money sometimes presents, never more than £20 each though. Younger daughter visits us a few days before Christmas with grandsons and we exchange gifts then. I allow £100 for the whole family. So Christmas morning we have nothing to unwrap. Grandsons other set of grandparents spoil them. 2 Christmases ago they bought them bikes and other gifts. Last year they paid for them to visit Father Christmas in Lapland. They returned with the worst colds ever, personally I think that it was coronavirus. We can't compete with that so don't try. I don't enjoy Christmas at all and am always glad when it is over. I think it stems from working in retail and being so busy and tired at Christmas. Mr T used to come home late Christmas Eve after taking down the store decorations, fall asleep after dinner, spend Christmas Day and Boxing day nodding off and then back to work. It also saddens me, as a Christian, to see the commercialisation of the event. Hardly anyone seems to celebrate the true meaning any more.

 

[SusieSue]

I think I've said on here before that I don't 'do' Christmas not a bauble is put up or a card displayed!

Working in retailing in December it's at least 14 hour days so I'm too flipping tired to make the effort, and as I don't have children I'm always the one put on the rota to stay late Christmas eve to prepare for the sale and I'm always the one in early Boxing Day morning to open the store.

I spend most of Christmas day asleep!

I buy my work colleagues token gifts, it's funny bookmarks this year) small gifts for my sisters (about £15) and I'm spoiling a friend with some 'This Works sleep spray' because she has had a very tough year, and of course my dog gets a gift or two

 

[Vienna]

Well the 8ft Santa is looking worse for wear today after a night of torrential rain. He seems to have shrunk and slightly bending over as if he`s got a belly ache, he`s losing his puff that`s for sure and at this rate he`ll resemble an empty plastic bag by Christmas unless someone in that house puts the wind up him again !

 

[Twilight]

Well the 8ft Santa is looking worse for wear today after a night of torrential rain. He seems to have shrunk and slightly bending over as if he`s got a belly ache, he`s losing his puff that`s for sure and at this rate he`ll resemble an empty plastic bag by Christmas unless someone in that house puts the wind up him again !

Poor old plastic pollutant, made in China Santa.

 

[Twilight]

We haven't bought each other Christmas presents for years, in fact I can't remember the last time we did. We get what we need throughout the year. We usually visit eldest daughter and grandchildren the Sunday before Christmas day with their presents. Sometimes money sometimes presents, never more than £20 each though. Younger daughter visits us a few days before Christmas with grandsons and we exchange gifts then. I allow £100 for the whole family. So Christmas morning we have nothing to unwrap. Grandsons other set of grandparents spoil them. 2 Christmases ago they bought them bikes and other gifts. Last year they paid for them to visit Father Christmas in Lapland. They returned with the worst colds ever, personally I think that it was coronavirus. We can't compete with that so don't try. I don't enjoy Christmas at all and am always glad when it is over. I think it stems from working in retail and being so busy and tired at Christmas. Mr T used to come home late Christmas Eve after taking down the store decorations, fall asleep after dinner, spend Christmas Day and Boxing day nodding off and then back to work. It also saddens me, as a Christian, to see the commercialisation of the event. Hardly anyone seems to celebrate the true meaning any more.

I have always loved Christmas & one of the best things I've ever been told was when our younger daughter said that I'd made it totally magical for her. As a child I always found it strange that the shepherds had lambs in December, obviously I didn't know if lambing season happened at that time of the year nearly two thousand years ago. However, when I had to research the subject for a lesson plan it became clear that, like with Easter, those in charge at the time made the decisions about when to commemorate the birth & death of someone whose teachings they knew they could no longer ignore & gave him a birthday on the date of the Roman winter solstice. I find it the last burst of colour before January & February, now those are 59 days I thoroughly dislike.

 

[boffy]

I love Christmas specially as this has been a horrible year for many I intend to make a good go of it this year .....sod the gloom and doom!